Officer also shot in deadly confrontation

A Jerseyville police vehicle is roped off by tape at The Tobacco Shop, 303 S. Jefferson St.

A Jerseyville police vehicle is roped off by tape at The Tobacco Shop, 303 S. Jefferson St.

Photo: Nathan Woodside

Photo: Nathan Woodside

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A Jerseyville police vehicle is roped off by tape at The Tobacco Shop, 303 S. Jefferson St.

A Jerseyville police vehicle is roped off by tape at The Tobacco Shop, 303 S. Jefferson St.

Photo: Nathan Woodside

Officer also shot in deadly confrontation

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JERSEYVILLE – A Jerseyville police officer is expected to survive after being shot Tuesday in a confrontation that left a burglary suspect dead.

The unidentified officer, a three-year veteran of the city police force who previously worked for the St. Louis Police Department, was taken to SSM Health Saint Louis University Hospital. He was reported in critical condition but stable later Tuesday and Jerseyville Police Chief Brad Blackorby said the officer was alert and talking.

The identity of the 24-year-old man who died in the shootout has not been released.

Blackorby said officers responded to a burglar alarm at DJ’s Pub and Grill at 117 W. Prairie St. at 1:12 a.m. Tuesday and saw a man running from the building. Two Jerseyville police officers and a Jersey County sheriff’s deputy pursued the man, who ran about a fifth of a mile east before a shooting started.

“The exact path I don’t know, but they left DJ’s pursuing him on foot,” Blackorby said. “It ended on [Illinois Route] 16 between two residences. Then the officer rounded the corner, the subject began firing upon officers. The officer returned fire. Both of them were struck multiple times with gunfire.”

Police said during a news conference Tuesday that some of the gunshots were to parts of the officer’s body not protected by his bullet-resistant vest.

The man was taken to Jersey Community Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

Two officers – the Jerseyville police officer who was shot and the sheriff’s deputy – fired at the man, according to Blackorby and Sheriff John Wimmersberg.

“Our officer was involved in the chase to the end and was involved in the shooting,” Wimmersberg said.

The third responding officer was a distance behind the other two and did not fire his weapon.

Blackorby said he turned over the investigation to Illinois State Police.

“I appreciate the Illinois State Police helping us out with this investigation. Incidents like this, it’s not something the Jerseyville Police Department would want to investigate itself,” he said.

Police sealed off the 200th and 300th block of Carpenter Street – commonly referred to by locals as Highway 16 – for much of Tuesday morning as they conducted an investigation.